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Introduction: Prime for Life is an evidence-based intervention tool that utilizes the most current research on intervention effectiveness in order to reduce problematic substance use among high-risk adults. The present paper examines the relation between substance use and personality variables in a high-risk sample—those charged with DUIs and referred to Prime for Life.
Method: In addition to Prime for Life program data, data on individual differences in Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness to Experience, as measured by the HEXACO, were collected before the intervention was implemented. Participants were assessed before (N=515), after (N=215), and at a 3-month follow-up (N=137) to the intervention.
Results: Results show that high levels of honesty-humility were related to less temptation to use substances and less alcohol and drug use at follow-up. Honesty-humility was also associated with more motivation to change and more acknowledgment of the idea that continued drug use may put highly valued things at risk at all three time points. Increased agreeableness was associated with less urges and more motivation to change use patterns at all three time points. Extraversion was associated with more perceived addiction risk at all three time points. High conscientiousness was related to more perceived risk of addiction at all three time points, less temptation to use substances at post assessment and follow-up, less urges to use substances, and more motivation to change use patterns at follow-up. Increased openness scores were positively associated with self-efficacy at follow-up. Honesty-humility and heightened emotionality were associated with more perceived costs of substance use at follow-up. Heightened emotionality was associated with more temptation to use substances post-intervention, increased urges to use substances, and increased awareness of problematic substance use at follow-up.
Conclusions: The results demonstrate how personality traits might influence substance use intervention outcomes. Honesty-humility, agreeableness, extraversion, conscientiousness, and openness are associated with perceiving substance use risk and being less tempted to use substances after the Prime for Life intervention. Heightened emotionality is associated with more temptation and urges to use after the intervention.